lcionline Chapter 2: A Glimpse into the Power of Thought in the Online Forum
Chapter 2: A Glimpse into the Power of Thought in the Online Forum
A private car slowly pulled into the station and stopped. The head of the alumnus from earlier popped out of the passenger window. He saw Lin Zhuo waiting for the train all alone and greeted him.
"Hey buddy, where are you going? I'll give you a ride!"
"Thank you, but it's not necessary." Lin Zhuo stared at the integrated network panel projected in front of him. He was preoccupied with a thousand things on his mind and had no time to socialize with others, so he refused decisively.
"What's the big deal? By the way, I've been approved. With our qualifications, interviewing for this kind of position is a piece of cake. Don't be coy, come on up."
"No, comrade."
The alumnus stared at him for a while, then shook his head and smiled. "You, did four years of military service at school make you stupid? Don't use the old tricks when you enter society. And with such a unique personality, no wonder you didn't pass the interview. Well, maybe we'll meet again someday."
Having said that, he retreated back into the window. The car drove off the platform, merged into the orderly flow of traffic, and disappeared into the distance in the blink of an eye, hidden among layers of heavy trucks.
Lin Zhuo did not watch his classmate leave, but stared at the integrated network panel in front of him. Even with his eyes closed, he could still see it clearly. If it were an illusion, it probably wouldn't be so real and organized.
Once the shock of the sudden change subsided, he began to try to control the panel with his mind, clicking on the additional instructions from the developers to read them carefully. A few minutes later, he suddenly understood.
"This so-called Comprehensive Network is a platform used by many incredible powerful beings in the multiverse to pass on their traditions and spread their blessings. With each generation of versions, it has nurtured countless heroes. It is truly an incredible opportunity."
"Now that I have the privilege of being qualified to play the game, whether it is to live a long life or to benefit the world, it is no longer a pipe dream."
"The current version's key feature is the self-created skill module, which allows users to create new skills based on their own knowledge and then integrate those skills by increasing their learning level. This is a highly efficient way to learn and grow."
"If a player's class level reflects their skill level, then the quality of their self-created skills reflects their cultivation level, and has a particularly significant impact on their combat ability."
"Besides personal effort, one can also use the version-limited item 'Enlightenment Diagram' to forcibly break through skill levels to improve skill grades."
"To obtain the Enlightenment Diagram, as well as important cultivation resources such as the Comprehensive Network Disaster Coin and Universal Experience, you need to clear the dungeon."
"The dungeon invitation must be purchased with 'merit points,' which can only be obtained by completing quests in the real world."
Lin Zhuo frowned slightly. According to the appendix, the quests for different professions each have their own unique features, and the triggering conditions are also varied.
Since the appendix did not provide examples of the quests for the Qigong Master profession, he remained completely unaware of how to obtain these quests.
More details about how to play the game can probably only be found there.
Comprehensive online forum.
As soon as he clicked on it, a notification appeared in his eyes.
[Players are encouraged to set their own nicknames, or skip this step and use the default name.]
The online forum brings together countless players from various universes, making it a mixed bag. Using nicknames as a cover is quite beneficial, and Lin Zhuo naturally followed suit.
Please confirm the nickname: "Ephemeral Peak"
"confirm."
[Dear new player [蜉蝦岳], welcome to the Multiverse Integrated Game Network player forum. To ensure signal quality, a world biome zone has been automatically selected for you based on the current version (ver26.beta), and the time flow rate has been synchronized.]
[Friendly reminder: Chatting carries risks, and transactions require caution. Please carefully verify trade details to avoid being scammed. This forum may contain opposing factions; please keep your personal information hidden.]
As the notification messages gradually disappeared, the grand spectacle of the comprehensive online forum was clearly revealed.
Trillions of players from all over the world contribute their efforts here, with new posts and trending topics vying for attention like a waterfall of fish.
The variety of specialized sections is overwhelming, including general sections for casual conversations, popular sub-sections such as dungeon guides, equipment appreciation, and player trading, as well as more detailed categories like interdimensional travel, academic discussions, and competitive battles.
After a little exploration, Lin Zhuo quickly noticed that there were discussion groups dedicated to various professions in the forum. The posts contained important information such as equipment configuration, skill development, recommended dungeons, as well as dedicated player guilds and related trading platforms.
Discussion groups are arguably the best professional circles for players to cultivate their expertise, and most of them restrict other professional players from posting, offering only basic guest privileges, thus fostering a very united community environment.
Lin Zhuo entered the Qigong Master Profession Discussion Group through the forum's built-in search function and immediately obtained official visitor status.
Ding--
[Community Announcement: In this vast world of countless realms, how fortunate we are to meet! Welcome, new Qigong Master! May we work together, shoulder to shoulder, to ascend the Great Dao.]
[Friendly Reminder: Newcomers are advised to read the guide compiled by community players first, as this will be extremely helpful in your career path. Please do not post content containing inappropriate information such as inciting conflict, curses, or evil techniques. Newcomers should be careful to distinguish malicious posts and should not rashly attempt to practice uncommon techniques.]
Although the Qigong Master discussion group cannot compare with popular circles such as Warrior and Ranger, it is still full of vitality, with many players of the same class.
Lin Zhuo readily accepted the advice and began reading the excellent posts marked "[Beginner's Guide]".
According to other veteran players, the Qi Master class system has a very distinct Eastern fantasy style. Although it is essentially more similar to a psionicist or superpowered individual, it is ultimately derived from martial arts, so the class path in this series also clearly has related elements.
There are the [King of Heroes] who specialize in eliminating evil and protecting the country, the [Master] who saves lives and heals the wounded and makes and transmits medicines, the [Ancestor] who enlightens the confused and teaches, the [Recluse] who is talented and elegant, the [Master Craftsman] who is skilled in all kinds of crafts and has ingenuity, and the [Champion] who charges into battle and captures enemy generals and flags.
These six paths belong to the virtuous path and are suitable for every Qigong player.
There are also two other paths that are not benevolent: the "overlord" who seizes territory and dominates the world, and the "false immortal" who uses supernatural powers and spreads heresies to mislead the masses. These two can be considered as neutral camps; if they follow the righteous path, they are good; if they follow the evil path, they are evil.
However, Lin Zhuo also saw a few warnings in the post introducing the Dao.
If a Qigong player is intent on causing harm and crosses the potential faction boundary in the online system, falling into evil, then they can activate two paths. One is to become a [True Demon] who wreaks havoc and brings devastation to the world, and the other is to become a [Demon Ghost] who kills and devours people with beasts.
These two paths are not encouraged, and the player replies in the post also contain a lot of advice. In the environment of the comprehensive network, once you are classified into the demonic path, even if there are thousands of benefits, you will often be thrown into dangerous situations, and you will die and your path will be destroyed if you are not careful.
The quests on the path may be difficult or easy, and the reward of merit points may vary, depending on the extent of the historical impact that the player's actions have on the real world.
After obtaining achievement points, you can purchase dungeon invitations. These dungeons are historical slices from various worlds, with different world backgrounds suitable for players of different professions to develop.
The forum posts contain many recommended routes for new players compiled by veteran players, which connect a series of fixed dungeons where you can farm specific equipment and items, enlightenment diagrams, learn skills from story characters, and collect various local cultivation resources.
By combining these scattered pieces, a powerful class build can be formed.
Of course, preparations beforehand are essential before officially entering a dungeon.
Even a level 1 Qi Master, a penniless nobody without a single Disaster Coin, can create a complete skill system based on martial arts theories shared by veteran players in the discussion group, ensuring basic combat strength and facilitating level completion.
Lin Zhuo pondered carefully and gradually made up his mind.
There are two urgent matters at hand: first, to familiarize oneself with Qi and create skills; and second, to try triggering some simple Daoist quests to obtain merit points and start dungeon adventures.
"Nen...where is Nen?"
Close your eyes and concentrate.
At this moment, he was about to verify whether the extraordinary path bestowed upon him by this network was a true opportunity or a delirious fantasy brought about by some kind of mental plague. Only real strength could prove it.
He had carefully read the highly praised post "Initial Understanding of Qi - A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started" by the web user [Hai Lou Fu Shen Yuan Jun - Xin Qi Ming], and already knew how to touch the ever-surging primordial essence deep within the body through meditation and purification of mind.
He wanted to calm down.
But the sweltering heat, the noisy traffic, the city's dust and lights, the sticky sweat on the skin—all these external stimuli constantly disturb the senses, disturb the nerves, and give rise to a multitude of distracting thoughts.
Lin Zhuo frowned secretly, forcing his mind to ignore external stimuli and disregard all physical discomfort. He simply focused his mind on the depths of his body, gradually reaching the innermost part of his body, a deep and dark void.
The spirituality of the Qigong master is extraordinary; his divine thoughts are like flames, capable of emitting light and illuminating this void.
Lin Zhuo was deeply immersed in a meditative state, perceiving countless subtle pores deep within his body. The primordial essence produced by life activities flowed out of these pores like colorless radiance, spreading throughout his limbs and bones, filling his skin and flesh, and propelling his body's functions.
Originally, life activities were like a steam engine running in the dark. Now, the arrival of divine sense is like a lamp illuminating the scene, revealing these hidden and subtle scenes to Lin Zhuo's mind. Only then did he realize that such a world existed within his body.
Incredible yet crystal clear, this is the beginning of transcendence.
The internal essence has been formed; the next step is to refine the mental energy.
The so-called combination of vital energy and spirit to form thought energy is not a gentle blend like water and milk. In reality, it uses the mind as fire and vital essence as fuel, and through the internal fire, vital energy is refined, so that the ethereal thoughts are sublimated and the miraculous power to change reality is obtained.
This step is a hurdle; the stronger the intention, the more it can ignite the primordial essence. Conversely, the flame will weaken, like a small candle, unable to refine the vital energy for a long time.
Depending on the player's talent and determination, it's not uncommon for them to be stuck at this step for days or even weeks. It's perfectly normal to not be able to get started right away, so there's no need to be anxious.
Lin Zhuo felt that his divine sense and primordial essence were like oil floating on water, incompatible with each other.
No matter how hard he tried to grasp or capture these subtle life energies with his thoughts, they remained like grains of sand in his palm; the tighter he held them, the more they slipped away.
He tried this cautiously for a while, but not only did it not work, his agitated emotions almost caused him to break out of his meditative state several times.
Frustrated and annoyed by the life force's stubborn and unyielding attitude, Lin Zhu roared in his mind, "Power... I command you to come out!"
Once a thought arises, the fire in the heart burns fiercely. Wherever the thought passes, the vital essence ignites. A ball of internal heat spreads downward from the skull, carrying along the vital energy along the way, just like the withered grass in an autumn field bursting into flames.
Instantly, blood surged throughout the body, temples bulged slightly, veins bulged in the arms, muscles bulged, hair stood on end, and the nervous system became highly active, making all the senses even clearer.
It's here! The foundation of all the extraordinary power of a Qigong master, this Qi fills his entire body, as if he were riding a tiger or a wild horse, eager to gallop and unleash his brutality.
Lin Zhuo raised his right palm, the veins on the back of his hand resembling the gnarled roots of an old tree, his palm bright red and lustrous, the abundant spiritual energy gathering and flowing under his skin, as if about to burst forth from a boiling cauldron.
The platform's rain shelter and iron railings now seemed like targets inviting him to strike them hard. He could imagine that a casual slap would inevitably cause significant damage, denting the metal, peeling off the paint, and making a deafening roar.
The anger that had just risen in his chest was quickly suppressed by Lin Zhuo.
He gently lowered his palm.
With a calm and focused mind, the active energy breaks free from the constraints of the mind and begins to subside spontaneously. Most of it degenerates back into vital energy, while a small amount is completely dissipated, turning into heat and evaporating with sweat.
"Hoo—" Lin Zhuo exhaled the hot, stale air that had accumulated in his chest. The joy of gaining power made him smile, after all, it was impossible not to smile at a time like this, otherwise one could be diagnosed with depression.
Refining one's inner energy is like riding a bicycle; once mastered, it's hard to forget. He is now a legitimate Qigong master.
Just then, the bus he was waiting for pulled into the station.
The bright orange bus swallowed him whole, then, carrying a full load of passengers, merged into Hongshui City's bustling transportation network that operates day and night.